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SmartFrench - Introduction to French, Vol.1 | 
| Author: Christian Aubert
Publisher: SmartPolyglot
Category: Book
Buy New: $19.95
Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 35437
Media: Audio CD
Pages: 43
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.3 x 0.6
ISBN: 1934519014
EAN: 9781934519011
Publication Date: December 14, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description
This is volume 1 of 2 volumes introducing basic French vocabulary, grammar and conjugation to the very beginner who wants to learn French, in order to prepare him or her to the practice of real life conversations in our "SmartFrench Audio CDs Beginner" product, or our "SmartFrench CDROM - Learn French Like Real French People". You might want to study both programs simultaneously, on one side, the two volumes to acquire the basics, and on the other side the "SmartFrench Audio CDs Beginner" or the CDROM to tune your ear and learn to listen to the French language the way it is really spoken. This volume 1 contains the alphabet, the numbers and the conjugation of the four verbs the most used in French and in English, with multiple examples. You will learn useful tips to memorize them easily. The volume 2 contains all the basic French vocabulary and basic grammar. It is necessary to go through "Vol.1" before working on the second volume. The basic vocabulary contained in the second volume represents the words you will find in any real conversations. We have recorded French people conversing naturally for our "SmartFrench Audio CDs Beginner" program (and for our CDROM) and we have analyzed these dialogs. We observed that 65% of all words spoken in any of these conversations were always the same and basic. After listening and practicing with these 2 volumes of "SmartFrench - Introduction to French", you will know 65% of all conversations you will ever have in French or you will happen to listen to.
If your intention is to learn a few sentences to get by when you are in France, this tool is not for you. You should get our "SmartFrench for Travelers" book and/or download it with the audios on the smartfrench website.
Like for all our products, we use our color-coding method to help you with your pronunciation. The way you will speak with SmartFrench is the natural way. You will sound like a French person very early learning French with SmartFrench and you will feel very confident speaking French.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
START WITH THIS METHOD FIRST if you want to learn French quickly March 4, 2008
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
This method works. Period. I have a bookshelf full of French language learning tools (books, CD's, flashcards), and they seem useless now that I am using SmartFrench. I listen to it six days a week. I'm going to be able to converse at length with someone on the street in Paris when we go this summer. I have been studying French almost daily for 3 months, and I was to the point where I wished for a program (like this new SmartFrench method!) that would just teach the basics: the most used verbs, and an easy way to become proficient in counting (pay attention to how many times a day you say numbers and you'll see why it's critical in learning a foreign language). Because I'm tired of only learning to ask, "I would like a croissant", or "Where is the bathroom?", I am thrilled that this method is helping me to have a two-way conversation in French. I'm already speaking French to my twin (a French speaker) and she just laughs--she is so shocked at my progress.
This is a simple, simple program. The SmartFrench Audio Cds Beg I, Vol. 1 Vol. 2 (separate purchases) figured out which essential vocabulary words, verbs (4 of them), and phrases you need to know to speak French quickly. This method also teaches you counting. It's unbelievable that this simple, easy approach has never been done before. I'm glad someone finally did it! Some of the most successful, useful inventions become obvious to the rest of us after someone comes up with the idea, and we smack our foreheads with the palm of our hands thinking, "Why didn't I think of that? It's so obvious!" SmartFrench is like that.
The teacher on the CD is really gifted. He speaks at a perfect speed, or tempo, his voice is easy to listen to, and he's SMART! It's literally like taking a French class without having to go to school. He gives you tips, clues, and ideas on how to remember things. You get the sense that he truly, truly wants to help you become proficient in speaking French.
Have you felt like giving up on learning French? Try this program and you'll get excited about it again. Have a Francophile in your life? This would be the PERFECT GIFT for them.
Side note:
*The "Beginner Level" and the "Intermediate/Advanced Level" CD's are also great, but have a different approach (VERY effective). Those CD's help tune your ear to the French language as you listen to native French speakers, at the same time teaching you to speak along with a really cool, innovative approach.
*The CD-Rom is also great. Very interactive. Nice to see the native French people speaking. Helps me to understand how to pronounce things even better and to see typical French mannerisms.
25 April 2008
One-and-a-half months after my last review I am still listening to SmartFrench. It is the best way to learn how to speak and understand spoken French bar none. The only way I can describe the reason that it works (since I am a musician), is that it is like listening to a song that you love. Once you have heard the melody a few times, it sticks in your head. The SmartFrench method makes French stick in my head. To me, French is very melodic, and it is a language that I love and want to learn. The narrator is the PERFECT teacher to teach you the 'melody' of the French language with its lilting sounds and liaisons. His voice quality, his flawless French and the way he explains each hint is perfect. He gives you all the secret phrases that every French person uses regularly, which you don't find in textbooks or other programs. Bravo, bravo, bravo! C'est vachement bon.
Excellent Program July 2, 2008
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
This is an excellent program for learning to speak French the way it's supposed to be spoken. School classes teaches the hard stuff, like grammar, etc., and not exactly how to speak/listen to the language. We tried a few other programs and were fairly disappointed until we got SmartFrench. This is an excellent program where you learn to speak, and as importantly, listen to French the way it's supposed to be spoken at different speeds. This first set of CDs (Introduction Vol 1 and Vol 2) will give you an introduction to simple everyday words, as well as some fundamental French language structure, and how to use them. Also, the 5 most used verbs are explained on their usage.
Finally, if you're an absolute beginner in the French language, this Vol 1 and Vol 2 will get you started in the right direction. Afterwards, the next sets (SmartFrench Beginner, Intermediate/Advanced) will get you further in developing the right speaking/listening skills. This program focuses mainly on the speaking/listening aspect of the language and it does it extremely well. This SmartFrench program should be used in conjunction with reading, watching French TV/movies, and working with other French grammar programs if you want total fluency in the language. Enjoy!
Great product! March 21, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is a wonderful learning tool. After listening to this for the first time, I knew that this was exactly what I was looking for to begin learning French. Just a few minutes in and I said to myself, "This is just what I need!". You get the basics that you need to truly build a solid foundation for learning the language. The pacing of the lessons is just right, and they are very pleasant to listen to as well. You feel like you're in the hands of a good, smart, wise teacher. I love using it, and I recommend it strongly.
My opinion on this September 16, 2008
I love the SmartFrench products with native French speakers in conversation, but the Introduction to French, Vol 1 and 2, I, personally, would skip, because they are "explanations" of grammar, and I think it is more effective to go right to listening to the conversations, and absorbing the sound and flow, and than speaking. Even with no previous French, I think this is the best way to learn, because this is how I learned the language years ago. So, while this is a good product, I personally would invest in the CD-ROM or CDs with the conversations by native French speakers....and would bypass the CDs which explain grammar.
the lost bean November 24, 2008
I found The Smart French series volumes 1 and 2 a very effective way to study French. They easily teach the useful words that you hear in everyday conversation. They do this in with a minimum amount of time spent vs words you learn. I think the most helpful aspect of this series for me is that it plays the words as they sound in a real environment. A number of other courses I have purchased in the past seem to be built around words and phrases that you will probably never hear, and are unlikely to use (unless you need to buy a bowler hat.) I would recommend these products.
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